I’m a conservative liberal too
Some people are confused.
Consider 71st State Rep. candidate, Dennis Ahern:
“I am an unapologetic social and liberal conservative. “*
Congratulations, you’ve alienated your base.
Ahern: “My family has been called the Republican wing of the Democratic Party for a long time.”
Cognitive dissonance occurs when there is a contradiction between belief and action. This guy is the front runner in the Democratic primary?
Ahern: “I’m pro-concealed carry and pro-life.”
You are in the wrong party.
“I’m disappointed,” he said of Mr. Brown’s win. “I think about a few things: one, this is a very, very ultra-right wing conservative that took over for Sen. Kennedy.” Congressman Phil Hare
Scott Brown makes Dennis Ahern look like a Tea Party-er and Phil Hare look like a lame duck. Dr. Shor at UChicago finds, “two thirds of other Massachusetts Republican state legislators were more conservative than [Scott Brown] was.” Either a) Illinois Congressman Phil Hare is further left than a Massachuets politician or b) has no idea where he stands on the ideological spectrum – I’m betting on the latter.
Moves like these are desperate attempts to attract potential voters or draw lines in the sand. “I’m not Scott Brown” or “I’m pretty much a Republican” aren’t just talking points, they are identities created by the fear of losing.
No worries, people that will be swayed by these wannabe populists don’t vote anyways.
—–
h/t: QCExaminer, “Lies My Congressman Told Me”
*see comments for correction
HAHA, I bet ahern has said ‘the right to conceal and carry isn’t the right to kill innocent babies!’
sophist
26 Jan 10 at 10:15 am
Jon, thank you for this! I have been listening to the corporate media and the democratic establishment say that this victory only proves that democrats need to align themselves with the sellouts of their party. Brown ran with blue yard signs that did not say the word “Republican” on them, and his oppnonent’s base was upset with the democrats for not making enough progress. Unfortunatly for the dems, the national media tried to make this about healthcare reform in a state that already has a form of universal healthcare, and whose resident’s personal livelihoods would not be impacted by national reform.
Benny
26 Jan 10 at 10:52 pm
Mr. Wallace,
My actual comment was that I am a social and fiscal conservative, which I am. The Dispatch printed it incorrectly. I asked them to corect at 4:00 AM yesterday when I saw it.
I am also a Catholic and a father and saw my wife mis-carry. That makes me who I am in regards to my stance on life.
I am not the front runner- I am the underdog. But Thanks.
Thank you
Dennis
Dennis Ahern
27 Jan 10 at 6:56 am
[...] the bases of the political spectrum, but while I see this as a bid to appeal to moderate Democrats, Jonathan Wallace thinks something else is in play here. Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)The Big [...]
The Big Tent Party « QC Examiner
27 Jan 10 at 12:57 pm
Ben – I was thinking MA voters already have universal healthcare (at the state level), so why would they even care about the progressive agenda anymore?
Dennis – Mea culpa, I’ll correct it as well. Most of the Dem precinct committee find you’re the one to win. Apparently, you even have Denny Jacobs support. Sounds like a very popular underdog.
I’m lost as to why you are not running as a Republican, when clearly your salient issues align with that party.
j
27 Jan 10 at 1:21 pm
Even though I’m not a Democrat, I take out a Dem ballot most years at the primary because in a place like RICO there is a 99.999999% chance that the Democrat will win and I want a voice in that selection.
This is why I’m voting for Ahern in the primary—he is a moderate Dem and not a Politburo-approved leftwinger like Lack and McNeil.
If Ahern wins, I’ll have a problem chosing between him and Morthland, but in my view, Ahern represents the 71st electorate better than either ofhis competitors.
As for Phil Hare, I believe you are leaving out one very important option beyond a) and b) and that is c) he lies like a dog.
QC Examiner
27 Jan 10 at 2:42 pm
Joanathan. Why are you such so mcuh always writing like this. I mean come on. You know that like totally it is so awesome when you make a mistake in your post and like totally not correct it and soooo like make people on other blogs think that it is wrong.
But even so, we all could use some more Aherns in the democratic party. Besides I don’t think that Morthland would like a primary opponent anyway. It is best that Ahern beats out the liberals, rather than Ahern running as a republican, winning or losing to a republican and then allowing that liberal democrat to trounce the republican even more because the republican used up all funds to win out a primary which didn’t need to happen in the first place.
Personally, as a morthland supporter, I am glad that Ahern is running as a democrat and not a republican. I like Rich and I like Dennis. I would hate to have to choose sides between the two. They are both really great guys.
Gummydummy
29 Jan 10 at 5:09 pm